"WIDE OF THE MARK"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1941, Page 5

"WIDE OF THE MARK"

COST OF SHIFT WORK

WOOLLEN MILL EMPLOYEES

"I do not know from what source the hon. gentleman obtained his estimate of an increase of £100,000 per year due to payment of the shift rates, but I can assure him that it is very wide of the mark," stated the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb) in the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to a question by Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) relating to an extra payment for shift workers in woollen mills on second or third shifts.

The Minister said he believed the amount referred to was mentioned during court proceedings prior to the Woollen Mills Labour Legislation Suspension Amendment Order and that it was probably based on the assumption that every worker in woollen mills where shifts were worked was entitled to the shift rate. That, of course, was not in accordance with the order, but in any case the savings that would be effected through the employers not having to pay overtime rates evidently had not been taken into consideration. No representations had been made to him by any of the parties concerned since the amendment order was issued and further consideration of the matter did not appear to be necessary. The suspension order enabled shifts to be worked without any payment of overtime rates, but provision was made for the payment of a special shift rate of 3s to males and Is 6d to females and youths.